Sudan PM says military's vast business holdings 'unacceptable' by Staff Writers Khartoum (AFP) Dec 15, 2020 Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has criticised the security sector's vast business holdings as "unacceptable", at a time of tension within the civilian-military administration. The transitional government is ruling Sudan following last year's ouster of strongman Omar al-Bashir by the army, amid youth-led pro-democracy mass protests. Hamdok, an economist, was speaking Monday after the United States took Sudan off its list of state sponsors of terrorism, a designation that dates to a time when Bashir hosted Islamist militants. The premier criticised the fact that Sudan's powerful military and security sector controls vast business interest in areas ranging from mining to agriculture. "Every army in the world invests in defence companies," he said. "But it is unacceptable for the military and/or security services to do so in productive sectors, and thus compete with the private sector." He was responding to a question on a US bill that would aim to boost civilian control over finances and assets belonging to Sudan's security forces. This law "will help the transitional government to advance the democratic transformation," Hamdok said. According to Sudan's press, the army and security services control 250 companies in vital areas such as gold, rubber, meat exports, flour or sesame. They are exempt from paying tax and operate in total opacity, according to the press reports, while the country is battling with a deep economic crisis. The head of the Sovereign Council, the country's highest executive body, army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has refused to transfer the companies to the government, saying he is only willing to have them pay tax. Earlier this year Hamdok criticised that "only 18 percent of the state's resources are in the hands of the government". He vowed to make it a "priority" to return companies belonging to the security sector to the government.
26 Nigerian generals Covid-19 positive: army Lagos (AFP) Dec 14, 2020 At least 26 Nigerian generals have tested positive for the novel coronavirus after they attended a conference in the nation's capital and one has died, the army said. Testing was ordered following the death of major-general John Irefin during the 2020 Chief of Army staff Annual conference in Abuja last week. "The Chief of Army Staff directed the immediate suspension of the conference and all participants were directed to move into self-isolation," said an army statement late Sunday. "Compre ... read more
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